School Based Nursery Capital Programme

Our Expertise in Early Years Childcare

Place Group has extensive expertise in the early years childcare sector – with its research team having worked with one-third of all English, and many Welsh, local authorities on early years childcare sufficiency and business planning projects since the initiation of the Childcare Act 2006.

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Our Success in Phase 1 Applications to the DfE’s School-Based Nurseries Capital Programme 

Place Group successfully wrote a number of applications for (the inaugural) Phase 1 of the DfE’s School-Based Nurseries Capital programme launched in October 2024, through which up to £150,000 in capital funding could be secured.

It has also been working in 2025 on the pre-opening project management of Phase 1 School-Based Nurseries.

You can apply to Phase 2 of the programme between 22 September 2025 – 11 December 2025, again for up to £150,000 of capital funding.

Full details on of programme can be viewed here:
DfE Blog – Nurseries in Schools: Everything You Need to Know

Applicants will need to commence the process by liaising with the local authority within which the relevant primary school is situated. Place Group has first-hand relationships with the relevant childcare sufficiency officers from the majority of English local authorities, and can support with this critical first process.

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How We Support Applications

Place Group’s early years and childcare specialists can then write a compelling School-Based Nurseries Capital programme application for a school, Multi Academy Trust(s), Single Academy Trust(s) and/or a maintained nursery school or class.

We can take full responsibility for the following key elements:

• School site visits – confirming feasibility through a space assessment and business planning review, and establishing application viability with headteachers/Trust leaders.
• Consultation and engagement – launching, managing, and analysing feedback from the school community.
• Local authority liaison – engaging with relevant officers to ensure their full support for the application.
• Application writing – producing strong content within the online application process, covering all the sections of the application:
  • Eligibility criteria
  • About your school or trust
  • About the project
  • Project overview and business model
  • Local need
  • Approach to early education and the Early Years Foundation Stage
  • Evaluation of risks
  • Management of provision
  • Value for money, including obtaining quotes from contactors

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If you are interested in further exploring how Place Group can support you with such an application please contact us at our Contact page.